The Detroit Lions have now had four training camp practices, with a noted uptick in intensity here and there as the days have gone on. They have not had full pads on yet, or more than "shells" during the early ramp up period. At the very least, the first four practices have been highly competitive sessions befitting a team with high expectations and Super Bowl aspirations.
On Monday, the Lions will have their first padded practice of this year's training camp. That advancement to full contact also naturally increases injury risk for players, but significant injuries will ideally be avoided.
There truly aren't that many spots on the Lions' roster that feel openly available. Of the 53 players who will be on the roster going into the season, we can pencil in like 45 and probably end up correct in a little over a month.
Updating our pre-training camp projection, here's a fresh 53-man roster projection for the Lions after the first week of training camp (and hours before the first padded practice).
Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection before the first padded practice of training camp
Quarterbacks (3)
- Jared Goff
- Hendon Hooker
- Nate Sudfeld
Dan Campbell's profession of an equal competition between Hooker and Sudfeld for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, and at least one noted chronicle of a rough day for Hooker on the last day of the first week of practice, opens the door for the Lions to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. If Hooker can't clearly beat out Sudfeld for the job as things ramp up, with padded practice, joint practices against the Giants and preseason games, that could become a thing in regard to the backup quarterback situation.
Running Backs (4)
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- David Montgomery
- Craig Reynolds
- Sione Vaki
Four running backs made it on our pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, with Reynolds as the cut. But it's clear, if it wasn't before (it should have been), that the Lions' incumbent No. 3 running back is not going down without a fight. The change in kickoff rules for the NFL opens the door to a different makeup of the final few spots on a roster, and Zonovan Knight became a hard player to cut.
Wide Receivers (5)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Jameson Williams
- Kalif Raymond
- Donovan Peoples-Jones
- Antoine Green
The wide receiver battle for the Lions has seemingly had a different star every day of camp so far. There may be a difficult cut or two that ends up being made here, as some of those early standouts try to maintain momentum. A numbers game at other positions makes it hard to keep more than five here.
Tight Ends (4)
- Sam LaPorta
- Brock Wright
- James Mitchell
- Shane Zylstra
Without a fullback on the roster, Wright may get some run there. Mitchell still has latent potential entering his third season, and the Zylstra seems to be well-liked by the coaching staff.
Offensive Line (9)
- OT Penei Sewell
- OT Taylor Decker
- C Frank Ragnow
- OG Kevin Zeitler
- OG Graham Glasgow
- OT/OG Colby Sorsdal
- OT Giovanni Manu
- OG Christian Mahogany
- OT Dan Skipper
Depth behind the starters, if only in regard to experience, is an issue here for the Lions (and pretty much every team). Manu makes the cut because the Lions are unlikely to get him back on the practice squad if they let him go, and the investment of a third-round pick mandates he makes it. Sorsdal has seen action at tackle and guard this offseason, so he fill the utility role. Skipper sticks again as the extra tackle for jumbo packages (inviting him to mistaken for Taylor Decker, of course).
Roster Count: 25
Defensive Tackle (5)
- Alim McNeill
- DJ Reader
- Brodric Martin
- Mekhi Wingo
- Levi Onwuzurike
Pretty cut and dry here. The step up to padded practices looks to be very important for Onwuzurike, who has gotten some run as a defensive end as the Lions seemingly eye a versatile role for him.
Defensive End/Edge Rusher (5)
- Aidan Hutchinson
- Marcus Davenport
- Josh Paschal
- James Houston
- Mathieu Betts
The Lions need to find production opposite Hutchinson. Davenport has natural spotlight on him as a notable free agent, while Houston is getting back to full health after an ankle injury ruined his second season. Paschal is entering a critical year for his career, with better health at the root for him. Betts. the 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player, has had a good start to camp and makes good on the flier the Lions took on him.
Linebackers (5)
- Alex Anzalone
- Jack Campbelll
- Derrick Barnes
- Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Malcolm Rodriguez
The Lions have added depth here with Ben Niemann and most recently Malik Jefferson, and both could factor into things. But these five guys are as locked into 53-man roster spots as anyone on the roster, barring something unforeseen.
Cornerbacks (6)
- Carlton Davis
- Terrion Arnold
- Ennis Rakestraw
- Amik Robertson
- Emmanuel Moseley
- Khalil Dorsey
The Lions cornerback overhaul this offseason involved the top four here, so they are of course roster locks. Things get more open after that, with Brian Branch seemingly making a transition to primarily playing safety, but Moseley and Dorsey make the cut right now.
Safeties (4)
- Brian Branch
- Kerby Joseph
- Ifeatu Melifonwu
- C.J. Moore
Branch's versatility opens up all kinds of possibilities for Aaron Glenn to deploy his secondary pieces. Moore makes the cut based on special teams value. Second-year man Brandon Joseph becomes a tough cut here despite a strong spring, based on numbers kept at other positions.
Specialists (3)
- PK Jake Bates
- P Jack Fox
- LS Scott Daly
Michael Badgley's season-ending injury leaves Bates as the only kicker on the Lions' roster (for now, and subject to change very quickly). He struggled on the last day of non-padded practice, so how he responds to that mental test will be something to watch. Based on the names of the four kickers that came to Allen Park to work out right after Badgley's injury, the job is Bates' to lose unless he absolutely falls flat on his face.
